Sanders County Power Outage History
2017–2025 · Montana
Worse than average — more frequent or longer outages than most counties. How grades are calculated
Outages by year
Outages by month (seasonality)
Worst outage events on record
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 13, 2021 | 107 hrs | 7,428 (93%) | High Wind |
| Dec 17, 2025 | 104 hrs | 6,903 (87%) | Flood |
| Sep 7, 2020 | 59 hrs | 3,568 (45%) | High Wind |
| Sep 8, 2025 | 4 hrs | 2,748 (34%) | Unnamed event |
| Dec 8, 2025 | 2 hrs | 2,674 (34%) | Winter Weather |
Over the 9 years from 2017 to 2025, Sanders County recorded 438 distinct power outage events, averaging 3.6 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Sanders County started January 13, 2021 (High Wind), lasting 107 hours and leaving up to 7,428 customers without power (93% of the county) at its peak.
January has historically been the worst month for outages in Sanders County, with 61 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Sanders County earns a Reliability Grade of D, placing it in the 20th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
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Similar counties in Montana
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Sanders County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | F | 14th |
| Madison County | D | 31st |
| Granite County | D | 33rd |
| Flathead County | D | 35th |
| Chouteau County | D | 37th |
FAQ
How often does power go out in Sanders County?
Between 2017 and 2025, Sanders County recorded 438 outage events, averaging 3.6 hours each.
What is Sanders County's reliability grade?
Sanders County has a Reliability Grade of D, in the 20th national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Sanders County?
The worst outage on record started January 13, 2021 (High Wind), lasting 107 hours and affecting up to 7,428 customers.